[February 18, 2013]CHICAGO -- The Illinois
Department of Veterans' Affairs will host a ceremony Feb. 28 at the
Illinois State Military Museum to honor and remember those who
served and made the ultimate sacrifice during Operations Desert
Shield and Desert Storm 22 years ago.

The military services of the United States -- including active-duty,
National Guard and Reserves -- joined with coalition forces to stop
aggression and eject Iraqi forces from Kuwait, which then-Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein had occupied in August 1990. The coalition
air war phase began early on Jan. 17, 1991, and stripped away Iraqi
air defense, command and control, and logistical capabilities. The
ground offensive operations -- commonly termed the "100-Hour War" --
began at 4 a.m. Feb 24, overwhelming Iraqi ground forces, capturing
thousands and ejecting the remainder from Kuwait. The coalition
forces, under the command of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, unilaterally
ceased offensive operations against the Iraqis at 8:01 a.m. Feb. 28,
1991.

At the ceremony in Springfield next week, there will be remarks
by Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Erica Borggren,
selected Desert Storm veterans and others. The ceremony will begin
at 11 a.m. Feb. 28 at the museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. in
Springfield.